We're three weeks out from Mexico's Saul "Canelo" Alvarez putting his WBC junior middleweight title on the line against WBA counterpart Austin "No Doubt" Trout of Las Cruces.

And while Floyd Mayweather Jr. will get most of the attention two weeks later when he meets Robert Guerrero in a huge pay-per-view event, Alvarez vs. Trout -- April 20 at San Antonio's Alamodome and on Showtime -- is, quite simply, as good as boxing gets.

Alvarez, 41-0-1 (30 knockouts) and Trout, 26-0 (14 KOs), are the future of boxing. One is a quick-fisted, power-punching, 22-year-old tank, whose game is volume and pressure. The other is a cool, calculating, 27-year-old southpaw stylist and brilliant technician, who is not shy about locking horns with an opponent.

Previous matchups featuring young, elite, often undefeated world champions in their primes, have proven that, more often than not, the result is memorable, if not historic.

The list

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Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez, Aug. 21, 1981: "The Battle of the Little Giants" featured Mexico's brilliant counterpuncher Sanchez, 40-1-1 (30 KOs), the WBC featherweight champ, against Puerto Rican slugger Gomez, 32-0-1 (32 KOs), who was moving to 126 pounds from 122, and whom most boxing experts considered the best pound-for-pound and hardest-hitting fighter in boxing. Sanchez was expected to box, but he hurt and dropped Gomez early before registering a thrilling eighth-round TKO. Sanchez died a year later, and this is considered his signature victory.

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, Sept. 16, 1981: Leonard, 30-1 (21 KOs), was the slick, superstar WBC welterweight champ; Hearns, 32-0 (30 KOs), the intimidating, power-punching WBA champ. Nicknamed "The Showdown," Leonard-Hearns was the most anticipated fight of the 1980s. Leonard was expected to box or risk being decapitated by Hearns, but, in the sixth round, he hurt "Hitman" and turned slugger. Hearns, meanwhile, used his jab to become the boxer in the most fascinating role reversal in boxing history. Behind on points, Leonard rallied to stop Hearns in the 14th round in one of the all-time greats.

Julio César Chávez vs. Meldrick Taylor, March 17, 1990: Chávez, the WBC 140-pound champion, was already legendary in compiling a 68-0 (55 KOs) record and multiple world titles. Taylor, 24-0-1 (14 KOs), was the young hot-shot IBF champ with speed and reflexes to burn. Shockingly, Taylor dominated with his boxing ability most of the way. He was winning the 12th round, too, when he was dropped with seconds to go in the fight. When Taylor didn't answer, referee Richard Steele stopped it with two seconds remaining.

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad, Sept. 18, 1999: Los Angeles' WBC welterweight champ De La Hoya, 31-0 (26 KOs), was boxing's mega-superstar, while Puerto Rico's Trinidad, 35-0 (30 KOs), was the long-reigning IBF champion. De La Hoya was the multifaceted boxer-puncher, and Trinidad the deadly, relentless puncher. But, the fight that was expected to develop never did, as De La Hoya boxed safely -- too safely, as it turned out -- and Trinidad advanced forward, rather ineffectively. Trinidad won a majority decision in one of the most controversial and disappointing fights in history.

Meanwhile, in Macau

Chinese superstar flyweight Zou Shiming will make his pro debut when he meets Mexico's Eleazar Valenzuela, 2-1-2 (1 KO), in the headliner to a Top Rank card in Macau, China (noon today, HBO2).

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